Leeann Lost 110 Pounds for Her Kids

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Leeann: Before

Name: Leeann Best

Age: 44

Height: 5'3"

Before weight: 270

How I gained it: During my first pregnancy, I gained 50 pounds and after childbirth, my weight gradually began increasing. As with most women, I became busy with life and forgot the importance of taking care of myself. I was young and my body didn't feel the extra 100 pounds I had gradually put on over the years. I had bad eating habits, no time for exercise and no real desire to be healthy.

Breaking point: After my husband unexpectedly passed away, I realized my life had changed drastically, and I had to make a change as well. I was a 42-year-old woman with two children who depended on me, and I am all they have left. I began to understand in depth how important it is to be healthy. Now I take my health very seriously.

Leeann: After

How I lost it: First, I dropped all sugar drinks, then I dropped sugar altogether and last, anything white. I cut carbs and added protein, fruits and vegetables. I drank lots of water and started walking. At first I only walked one mile a day, five days a week. Eventually I was walking three and a half miles every day in the same time it took me to walk one mile when I started. Then I joined a gym, and I am trying to tighten all this extra skin I have been left with. I think that some of the damage done by the weight gain can only be changed by surgery, and that will never happen. I am a little disappointed that I've lost all this weight and my body still looks bad, but I am healthier. I search, read and try anything to improve my body shape.

After weight: 160

Leeann has maintained her weight loss for a little more than one year.

One way to start slimming down is to eat less, and AOL Health can help you cut down on portion sizes.